DuckDuckGo adds Apple Maps

Privacy protecting search engine DuckDuckGo is now using Apple Maps to display location information. It’s the latest offering from the company which aims to offer people more online services that do not keep their data.

DuckDuckGo has taken on Apple’s offerings to provide “a valuable combination of mapping and privacy”.

“Naturally, our strict privacy policy of not collecting or sharing any personal information extends to this integration,” DuckDuckGo said in an announcement.

“We do not send any personally identifiable information such as IP address to Apple or other third parties.”

We’re excited to announce that maps on DuckDuckGo are now powered by Apple Maps. We are proud to be among the first global companies using MapKit JS framework, and you, dear users, get improved map results, and all still private, of course. 🙂https://t.co/Y0GVShhHVF

Apple also has a strict stance on privacy. Chief executive Tim Cook recently calling for a federal privacy law akin to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation to protect users and their data.

“Every day, billions of dollars change hands and countless decisions are made on the basis of our likes and dislikes, our friends and families, our relationships and conversations, our wishes and fears, our hopes and dreams,” he told the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in October.

“These scraps of data, each one harmless enough on its own, are carefully assembled, synthesised, traded and sold. Taken to its extreme, this process creates an enduring digital profile and lets companies know you better than you may know yourself.

“We shouldn’t sugarcoat the consequences, this is surveillance.”

Apple also took aim at rivals over their usage of user data during the CES technology conference last week, using billboards to say “What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone”.